The Director

I'm back and it hasn't been a year. For all 6 of you who read this, thank you for your continuing support of this blog. You are valued to me.

The reason I am back so soon, relatively, I have a bit of a life update. I have gotten some news about Northland Bible Camp next year. I have been asked to direct the Youth Camp session.

Now let me tell you how this all came to be, there is a bit of a call story. It's short, but cool.

This story starts during Youth Camp 2017, it was a great week and I had a blast. As I always do. Twice during this week I was approached and told that I would make a good director, now I just brushed these off as a thoughtful compliment. The week went on and it was an enjoyable time. The next week was Hockey camp, I once again got told that I would make a good director. At this point I thought, "Hey, maybe there is more to this!" Now what I did next I think is pretty neat. I pulled out my phone and added this to the notes on my phone:"Should I direct youth camp?" with the intention that if someone asked me to direct I would. That was my prayer. I kept this to myself, told know one I was praying about this. Well, as things always seem to go when you pray about them... Not even a week later, Sean Lee approached me at church and asked if I would be interested in directing Youth Camp.  ... With an answer like that, it'd be wrong to not do it. I said yes.

And that is the short but awesome story of what God is doing in my life currently.

Nolan Out!

The Problem With Nolan

Recently I've been noticing a downward trend in the world. Nothing super specific, it just seems that more and more bad things seem to be happening. The world is drifting farther and farther away from God's law. Valuing things that are wrong. This sort of thing.

I have been seeing people I used to know, some of them very good friends, that have been drifting away from God. When I was younger these people used to seem like they had it all together, I was even envious of their spiritual life. But from observing their lives now, clearly, they did not have it all together, they gave up, or missed something important.

Now I know that sounds really harsh, and maybe it is. Just a little. But want to know the the worst part of this story? I sometimes look at these people and feel like I am better then them. I mean, I go to church most Sundays, I help run the sound booth, I do other things at the church.

But the truth is that I'm no better. If anything, I am worse off then these friends of mine. I wear a mask. I play a role in the musical called Church. I know my lines. I know them well. 

But when I am not at church I have hidden sins that I indulge. The ones no one sees. The ones that are best kept secret and are easy to keep, at least from most. My sins are worse, at least in my mind. I see mine as less "bad" just because mine just aren't out in the public eye.

From the outside, people think I'm doing well. I'm not. My life is a Christian roller coaster.(See previous post.) It definitely has its ups, and let me be clear, the ups are wonderful and hard work. But I get really low some times. Sure I know how to smile and keep things nice on the outside. But inside I am somewhat of a wreck.

Sorry for the depressed late night post. I really do plan on getting around to writing that post about being content. Eventually.

Here is some homework. Read Psalms 73. 

Nolan Out!

P.S. Just to lighten the mood: Why did the cookie go to the hospital? Because he felt crummy.

Consistently Inconsistent

So I have something to say. It is something new, it is something you have never heard before. Are you ready for this? Daily devotions actually help. Crazy right!?

Okay, so not mind blowing. Let me briefly explain how I came to this conclusion. I grew up in a christian home and have been told this since I was able to understand language, this is not how I came to this conclusion. You'd think I would have been smart enough to maybe figured this out log before I was 24(Wow, I am SO old). But I didn't! Because I need to learn things the hard way.

Lately I've been really trying to focus on  actually doing daily devotions. The bad news is that I am consistently inconsistent. After a day when I do my devotions I find it is much easier to withstand temptation, and sin, and my days just go WAY better. When I don't do my devotions the day isn't , what you'd call, Ideal.

I'll leave you with this:

Psalms 1:2-4 "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away."

Nolan Out!

P.S. I know I promised this post to be on being content in life, but you'll have to wait till next time, sorry!

Wise Guy

So a couple weeks ago, as I was at the gym in the morning. Okay fine, it wasn't really the morning, basically the afternoon, but morning for me. And as I was sitting on the bike, and not like an actual work out bike, but the one that the grandmas use. And I was just answering some work related email on my phone...

This was the exact moment it hit me. It hit me hard too, it was like getting hit a a pillow case full of venomous baby porcupines. You feel it, you get bruised, it sticks with you, and it stings a lot.

I am an adult. Like almost for real. Now I am not just going to ramble on about how much I don't want to be an adult. That complaint overdone. But what I do what to talk about it Wisdom. Since I am older, I should be wiser. Is age the only way to get Wisdom?

Lately I have been reading through the book of Proverbs. This is an entire book of the Bible written as a dedicated "How-To be wise" book. Wisdom for Dummies. 

This book covers most major things we need wisdom for: Relationships, Careers, Family, there are more, I'm just to lazy to write them down. And then on top of the book of Proverbs, the guy who wrote it, King Solomon, he also wrote two other books, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes(yeah, I had to consult the googles for proper spelling of Ecclesiastes). Both similar to Proverbs, just more focused on certain topics. Song of Solomon is for love and relationships, and Ecclesiastes is telling us about how pointless life can be(It does end on a happier note then that). 

So at least 3 books of the Bible are dedicated to the subject of wisdom and they were all written by the wisest man to ever live, Solomon(1 Kings 4:29-30). So I guess we can just assume that this is an important topic. Otherwise why talk about it so much?

I guess it's time to go on a long and dangerous quest to find out what and where wisdom is. I am sure we will need to answer riddles, fight trolls, climb mountains, destroy rings... Whoa! started getting a little off track. 

It's actually really easy to find and acquire wisdom. Check this out: James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Notice that the verse doesn't even mention anything about age or knowledge. Sure those can be factors. But this says that all we have to do is ask for wisdom and God will give it to us. That is pretty cool. We all need wisdom no matter then age. We need help in choosing schools, what to take, where to go. We need help in our relationships, who to date, who to not date. We all need help in being adults, money, jobs, houses, cars. God care about all these things and wants us to make good choices with them. Wisdom will hep with this. We all need wisdom. Ask for wisdom.

Well that is all I got to talk about today. Come back next time to hear me talk about being content. 

Nolan out!

S*ear W*rds

I myself don't swear because I have been raised not to, but does that really make it wrong? Is swearing really a sin? How can a word in and of itself be wrong. Isn't it the motives behind the words what really matter? You can use "nice" words and say something way worse then a swear, right?

After looking through the Bible I have not found a "List of words not to say because they are Bad." The only things that could be put on the "bad" word list is what we find written in Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain." So obviously anything that profanes or is irreverent toward God's name can go on the list.

At this point we still can't compile a list of "bad" words that Christians shouldn't say, other then improper use of God's name. I think since the Bible is going to last forever it wouldn't give us a list. Language changes over time. I think they, sadly, added selfie to the dictionary. The point is that every culture and time period have had there very own kind of "bad" words, and words that once had a legitimate meaning are now what the world calls "bad" words.(Which is a point in itself, if the world says something is bad then shouldn't we as Christians?)

Here are some verses I have found that might help us figure out if we should be worried about swearing:

1. James 3:10 "From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so"  
2.  Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."  
3. Proverbs 4:24 "Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you" 

 Now obviously these verses don't tell us not to use the F-Bomb. But what I can certainly say is that the content of our speech is very important. When you use a swear it isn't in a happy way, the motives behind the words probably aren't very Christ like. And it certainly isn't going to "give grace to those who hear."

 Which leads into my next point. We are told to be apart from the world, yes? And we should be putting other first, correct? Here is something Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up." When it comes to your speech does swearing really build others up?

Over in  Luke 6:45 it says "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." Do you think that swearing is a "good treasure"?


Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" Is swearing going to allow people to see the Glory of  God?

Bringing glory to God should be one of our top priorities 1 Corinthians 10:31-33 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved." Just remember that as a Christian one of our primary goals is to bring others to Jesus. And in view of our topic, is Swearing really going to help accomplish that goal? As a Christian we are supposed to be aiming to become more like Jesus, Is swearing really going to get us there? As cliche as it seems "What Would Jesus Do"?


Nolan Out!

Open Letters.

New Favorite Song. (Shout out to Silas for digging this up)
Now normally I'm not one to listen to Christian Rap. Franky 90% of the time the Lyrics are cheesy and the beats suck and its just all around lame. But I guess there are always exceptions to the rules.

The album "Weights and Glory" by KB is just fantastic. I would promote it to any one! But the one song that was just so good is "Open Letters(Battlefield)" the lyrics are so intense and the beat isn't half bad.

Now if you don't like rap I have posted the lyrics below so now you don't have to listen to it and have no excuses to not check out this powerful message...

Nolan Out!

Obligation and Desire

Good News!

I've been keeping up with reading my Bible every night before I go to bed. I haven't missed a day for about two months. This is a BIG deal! I am happy and learning lots.

But there is always bad news to go along with good news it seems. I have this issue, and it doesn't even seem like a big issue, just something I wish was different in my attitude towards reading. There are times I go to bed around 2am and I just don't feel like reading, times I would rather just go to sleep instead of taking the time to read God's word and let Him show me his will. I force my self to read anyways. Which is better then not reading I guess.



I wish that I always had the desire to read. I wish it  was some thing I wanted to do every night, something I wouldn't even consider to skip out on. Something I looked forward all day. Why is it that we struggle so hard with this. Shouldn't it be easy to read what the creator of the entire universe has written to us? Isn't that something that should take the most important place in our lives?

I feel that I am obligated to. I have to because it is the right thing. I'm not saying this is wrong, just something I am trying to work on. I want to get to a point in my life where this is something I can't live with out. Where I thirst to find out what God wants to tell me. Instead of this need to force myself to read his word.



I guess this is something that is common in lots of aspects of our Christian lives. Going to church being at the top of the list as well, shouldn't we want to be there? Is there anywhere else that we find better? There shouldn't be. Why would we not want to be where the Christians are? I know I have struggle with this. Yes, I go to church every Sunday, haven't missed one in a long time. That doesn't mean that is where I want to be. I feel Obligated to go because my parents want me to go or because I know that is what I am supposed to do as a Christian. I want my attitude towards it to change. I want to desire to go to Church because there is nothing better to do on a Sunday or Wednesday night.

I'm sure there are many other areas in our Christian lives that we struggle with this same thing, Desire or Obligation. Think about it. Pray for me!

Nolan Out!